BIZIMANA P v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
The Court of Appeal held that since the High Court had already considered and applied the relevant mitigating factors in reducing the sentence from life imprisonment to 20 years, and since Bizimana Papias raised no new grounds other than seeking further reduction, there was no legal basis to reduce the sentence...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA 01115/2024/CA
- Parties
- Appellant: Bizimana Papias; Respondent: Ubushinjacyaha
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 23 December 2025
- Case Number
- RPAA 01115/2024/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Defilement of Minors, Sentencing, Mitigating Circumstances, Appeals Process
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Bizimana Papias
Appellant
Ubushinjacyaha
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence of 20 years imprisonment imposed on Bizimana Papias for defilement of minors could be further reduced on appeal
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal held that since the High Court had already considered and applied the relevant mitigating factors in reducing the sentence from life imprisonment to 20 years, and since Bizimana Papias raised no new grounds other than seeking further reduction, there was no legal basis to reduce the sentence further. The appeal was dismissed as lacking merit.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal of Bizimana Papias is dismissed as lacking merit.
- The High Court judgment and the 20-year sentence remain unchanged.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
# BIZIMANA P v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-12-23 - Case/document no.: RPAA 01115/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
## Text
## Page 1
BIZIMANA P v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
[Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 01115/2024/CA (Rutazana, P.J.,) 23 Ukuboza 2025] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza nshinjabyaha – Icyaha cyo gusambanya abana – Gusaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano – Iyo uregwa nta kindi anenga urubanza yajuririye, uretse gusa kuvuga ko atagabanyirijwe igihano bihagije, buri mucamanza ku rwego urwo arirwo rwose, yemerewe gutanga igihano mu bushishozi bwe kijyanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha n’ingaruka zacyo, cyakora mu bujurire Umucamanza agomba kuzirikana ko yemerewe gusa guhindura igihano cyatanzwe n’Umucamanza wo mu Rukiko rubanza ari uko amaze kugaragaza ko urwo Rukiko rwaba rwarakoresheje nabi Itegeko cyangwa ubushishozi bwarwo mu gutanga igihano. Incamake y’ikibazo: Abana ba 3 babahungu bitwa M.B.E ufite imyaka 10 y’amavuko, uwitwa M.K.E ufite imyaka 12 y’amavuko, n’uwitwa C.C, batanze amakuru y’uko uwitwa Bizimana Papias babanaga yabasambanyije mu kibuno, kandi ko amaze kubibakorera inshuro nyinshi batazi umubare. Hashingiwe kuri ayo makuru, Bizimana Papias yarafashwe atangira gukurikrianwa, akekwaho icyaha cyo gusambanya abana. Nyuma y’iperereza Ubushinjacyaha bwamureze mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, busaba ko hemezwa ahamwa n’icyo cyaha kandi agahanishwa igifungo cya burundu. Bizimana Papias yaburanye yemera icyaha anagisabira imbabazi, asaba no kugabanyirizwa igihano. Uru Rukiko rwemeje ko Bizimana Papias ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gusambanya abana b’abahungu bafite imyaka iri munsi ya cumi n’ine (14) y’amavuko, maze rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. Bizimana Papias yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano avuga ko icyo yahanishijwe kiremereye kandi yaraburanye yemera icyaha. Ubushinjacyaha bwavuze ko ubujurire bwa Bizimana Papias nta shingiro bufite, kuko hakurikijwe uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze, igihano yahanishijwe kidakwiriye kugabanywa. Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze Bizimana Papias akwiriye kugabanyirizwa igihano; maze ruhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20). Bizimana Papias yongeye kujurira mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, avuga ko asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko Urukiko Rukuru rutakigabanyije mu buryo buhagije, rwirengagije impamvu nyoroshyacyaha yagaragaje. Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa Bizimana Papias nta shingiro bufite, kuko impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ashingiraho asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano ari nazo Urukiko Rukuru rwashingiyeho rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 20 aho kuba igifungo cya burundu, bityo ko izo mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha zidakwiye kongera gushingirwamo mu kumugabanyiriza igihano hashingiwe ku murongo watanzwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga aho rwasobanuye ko impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zitaweho mu Rukiko rubanza zitongera gushingirwaho mu kugabanya igihano mu Rukiko rwajuririwe.
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Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga kandi ko ingingo ya 2(a) y’Itegeko N˚059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2024 rihindura Itegeko N˚68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange uregwa yashingiyeho asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano idategeka ko mu gihe Urukiko rugabanyirije uregwa igihano rumuhanisha igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko ku cyaha aregwa, kuko icyo iyo ngingo iteganya ari uko uregwa ashobora kugabanyirizwa igihano, kandi akaba yarabikorewe, bityo Urukiko rukaba rudategtswe kumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 nk’uko abisaba. Uru Rukiko rwasuzumye niba igihanco cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 20 uregwa yahanishijwe mu rubanza rwajuririwe kubera icyaha yahamijwe cyo gusambanya abana b’abahungu bataruzuza ku myaka 14 y’amavuko, gishobora kongera kugabanywa kuri uru rwego. Incamake y’icyemezo: Iyo uregwa nta kindi anenga urubanza yajuririye, uretse gusa kuvuga ko atagabanyirijwe igihano bihagije, buri mucamanza ku rwego urwo arirwo rwose, yemerewe gutanga igihano mu bushishozi bwe kijyanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha n’ingaruka zacyo, cyakora mu bujurire Umucamanza agomba kuzirikana ko yemerewe gusa guhindura igihano cyatanzwe n’Umucamanza wo mu Rukiko rubanza ari uko amaze kugaragaza ko urwo Rukiko rwaba rwarakoresheje nabi Itegeko cyangwa ubushishozi bwarwo mu gutanga igihano. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N˚ 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, ingingo ya 188. Imanza zifashishijwe: Urubanza RPAA 01400/2024/CA, rw’Ubushinjacyaha na Twagirayezu Aimable, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 23/10/2025; Urubanza RPA 00060/2021/CA rw’Ubushinjacyaha na Nsabimana Callixte alias Sankara na bagenzi be, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 04/04/2022.
Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Umwana witwa M.B.E1 ufite imyaka 10 y’amavuko n’undi witwa M.K.E2 ufite imyaka 12 y’amavuko batanze amakuru y’uko ku wa 07/05/2027 mu gitondo uwitwa Bizimana Papias babanaga yabasambanyije mu kibuno, kandi ko amaze kubibakorera inshuro nyinshi batazi umubare. Undi mwana w’umuturanyi wabo witwa C.C3 nawe Bizimana Papias yamusambanyije
1 Iri zina yarihawe muri uru rubanza mu rwego rwo kurinda umwirondoro we.
2 Iri zina yarihawe muri uru rubanza mu rwego rwo kurinda umwirondoro we.
3 Iri zina nawe yarihawe muri uru rubanza mu rwego rwo kurinda umwirondoro we.
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mu kibuno ubwo yari yagiye gusura M.B.E na M.K.E, arangije amuha 2.000 Frw kugira ngo ntabivuge. Hashingiwe kuri ayo makuru, Bizimana Papias yarafashwe atangira gukurikrianwa, akekwaho icyaha cyo gusambanya abana.
[2] Nyuma y’iperereza Ubushinjacyaha bwamureze mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, busaba ko hemezwa ahamwa n’icyo cyaha kandi agahanishwa igifungo cya burundu. Bizimana Papias yaburanye yemera icyaha anagisabira imbabazi, asaba no kugabanyirizwa igihano. [3] Mu rubanza RP 00569/2022/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge ku wa 12/07/2022, rwemeje ko Bizimana Papias ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gusambanya abana b’abahungu bafite imyaka iri munsi ya cumi n’ine (14) y’amavuko, rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. [4] Bizimana Papias yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko icyo yahanishijwe kiremereye kandi yaraburanye yemera icyaha, akaba atararuhije ubutabera. [5] Ubushinjacyaha bwavuze ko ubujurire bwa Bizimana Papias nta shingiro bufite, kuko hakurikijwe uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze igihano yahanishijwe kidakwiriye kugabanywa; ko kandi iyo ari nayo mpamvu Urukiko rwashingiyeho rwanga kumugabanyiriza igihano ku rwego rwa mbere. [6] Mu rubanza RPA 01300/2022/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 11/10/2024, rwasanze Bizimana Papias akwiriye kugabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku biteganywa mu ngingo ya 2 y’Itegeko N˚ 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko N˚ 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, no ku murongo watanzwe n’uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire mu rubanza RPA 00060/2021/CA rwaciwe ku wa 04/04/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Nsabimana Callixte alias Sankara na bagenzi be; maze ruhanisha Bizimana Papias igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20). [7] Bizimana Papias yongeye kujurira mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, ubujurire bwe bwandikwa kuri RPAA 01115/2024/CA, urubanza ruburanishwa mu ruhame ku wa 04/12/2025 yunganiwe na Me Nyirihirwe Hilaire, naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Uwanziga Lydia, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [8] Mu mwanzuro w’ubujurire no mu miburanire imbere y’Urukiko, Bizimana Papias n’umwunganira bavuga ko asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko Urukiko Rukuru rutakigabanyije mu buryo buhagije, rwirengagije impamvu nyoroshyacyaha yagaragaje. [9] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa Bizimana Papias nta shingiro bufite, kuko impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ashingiraho asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano ari nazo Urukiko Rukuru rwashingiyeho rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 20 aho kuba igifungo cya burundu.
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[10] Urukiko rurasuzuma niba igihanco cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 20 Bizimana Papias yahanishijwe mu rubanza rwajuririwe kubera icyaha yahamijwe cyo gusambanya abana b’abahungu bataruzuza ku myaka 14 y’amavuko, gishobora kongera kugabanywa kuri uru rwego. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA
Kumenya niba uru Rukiko rushobora kongera kugabanya igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 20 Bizimana Papias yahanishijwe kubera icyaha yahamijwe cyo gusambanya abana b’abahungu bataruzuza ku myaka 14 y’amavuko
[11] Bizimana Papias na Me Nyirihirwe Hilaire umwunganira bavuga ko basaba uru Rukiko gushingira ku biteganywa mu ngingo ya 49 n’iya 58 z’Itegeko N˚68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, rukagabanyiriza Bizimana Papias igihano kuko ari ubwa mbere akurikiranyweho icyaha mu nkiko kandi akaba yaracyemeye kuva agifatwa, ndetse akaba yumva yaramaze kugororoka kuko yasobanukiwe ko icyaha yahamijwe yagikoreye umuryango nyarwanda. [12] Basaba Urukiko gushingira ku biteganywa mu ngingo ya 2 (a) y’Itegeko N˚ 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko N˚ 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, rukamuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 aho kuba imyaka 20 yahanishijwe mu rubanza rwajuririwe. [13] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa Bizimana Papias nta shingiro bufite, kuko impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ashingiraho asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano zitaweho n’urukiko Rukuru mu rubanza rwajuririwe maze rumugabanyiriza igihano, aho guhanishwa igifungo cya burundu, ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 20 nk’uko rwabisobanuye mu gikacya 8 cy’urwo rubanza; ko rero izo mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha zidakwiye kongera gushingirwamo mu kumugabanyiriza igihano hashingiwe ku murongo watanzwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rubanza RPA 0129/10/CS4, aho rwasobanuye ko impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zitaweho mu Rukiko rubanza zitongera gushingirwaho mu kugabanya igihano mu Rukiko rwajuririwe. [14] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga kandi ko ingingo ya 2(a) y’Itegeko N˚059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2024 rihindura Itegeko N˚68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange idategeka ko mu gihe Urukiko rugabanyirije uregwa igihano rumuhanisha igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko ku cyaha aregwa, kuko icyo iyo ngingo iteganya ari uko uregwa ashobora kugabanyirizwa igihano, kandi na Bizimana Papias akaba yarabikorewe, bityo Urukiko rukaba rudateegtswe kumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 nk’uko abisaba. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA
4 Icyegeranyo cy’ibyemezo by’inkiko, V.2 -2014, Ukwakira 2014, urupapuro rwa 127 igika cya 15
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[15] Impaka kuri iyi ngingo zishingiye ku kumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 20 Bizimana Papias yahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru kubera icyaha yahamijwe cyo gusambanya abana b’abahungu bataruzuza imyaka 14 y’amavuko, gishobora kongera kugabanywa kuri uru rwego. [16] Mu rubanza RPA 00060/2021/CA rwaciwe ku wa 04/04/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Nsabimana Callixte alias Sankara na bagenzi be (mu bika bya 252- 254), Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasobanuye ko iyo uregwa nta kindi anenga urubanza yajuririye, uretse gusa kuvuga ko atagabanyirijwe igihano bihagije, buri mucamanza ku rwego urwo arirwo rwose, yemerewe gutanga igihano mu bushishozi bwe kijyanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha n’ingaruka zacyo (……), cyakora mu bujurire Umucamanza akaba agomba kuzirikana ko yemerewe gusa guhindura igihano cyatanzwe n’Umucamanza wo mu Rukiko rubanza ari uko amaze kugaragaza ko urwo Rukiko rwaba rwarakoresheje nabi Itegeko cyangwa ubushishozi bwarwo mu gutanga igihano. Uyu murongo kandi wakomeje gukurikizwa mu zindi manza zaciwe n’uru Rukiko, mu ziheruka gucibwa harimo urubanza RPAA 01400/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 23/10/2025, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Twagirayezu Aimable (igika cya 33). [17] Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, Bizimana Papias nawe nta kindi anenga urubanza yajuririye uretse gusa kuvuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwirengagije impamvu nyoroshyacyaha yagaragaje, maze ntirwamugabanyiriza igihano mu buryo buhagije; agasaba ko igifungo cy’imyaka 20 yahanishijwe gisimbuzwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15. Hashingiwe ku murongo wagaragajwe mu gika kibanziriza iki, Urukiko rurasuzuma uburemere bw’icyaha cyakozwe na Bizimana Papias n’ingaruka cyagize, runasuzume niba ashobora kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano, hitawe ku bihano byatanzwe mu zindi manza zijya gusa n’urwe. [18] Mu zindi manza zaciwe n’uru Rukiko ku bantu bari mu kigero kimwe n’icya Bizimana Papias basambanyije abana bari mu kigero kingana cyangwa kijya kungana n’icy’abo we yasambanyije (imyaka 10 na 12 y’amavuko), rwabagabanyirije igihano bahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 22. Mu ziherutse gucibwa twavuga nk’urubanza RPAA 01187/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 29/09/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Ngoboka Emmanuel, aho uyu yahamijwe icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana ufite imyaka 9 y’amavuko mu gihe Ngoboka Emmanuel we yari afite imyaka 34 y’amavuko, maze Urukiko rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 22 hashingiwe ku kuba ari ubwa mbere akurikiranyweho icyaha mu buryo buzwi. [19] Muri uru rubanza Bizimana Papias yakoze icyaha cyo gusambanya abana b’abahungu bafite imyaka 10 na 12 y’amavuko, mu gihe we yari afite imyaka 35 y’amavuko, kandi akaba ari ubwa mbere akurikiranyweho icyaha mu buryo buzwi, ariko akanagira umwihariko w’uko yasambanyije abana barenze umwe; nyamara akaba yarahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 20, ni ukuvuga kiri munsi y’igihano ubusanzwe uru Rukiko ruhanisha abakoze ibyaha bisa n’ibye. [20] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga mu rwego rwo gutanga ubutabera bumwe ku bibazo bijya gusa, ubundi Bizimana Papias nawe yari akwiriye guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 22; ariko nk’uko byavuzwe we yahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 20 kandi iki gihano ntigishobora kongerwa kuko ari we wenyine wajuriye5; hashingiwe ku byasobanuwe haruguru birebana n’igihano ubundi
5Ingingo ya 188 y’Itegeko N˚ 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha iteganya ko “iyo uregwa yajuriye wenyine, urukiko rwajuririwe rudashobora kongera igihano yari yagenewe mu rwego rwa mbere.”
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gihanishwa abahamwe n’ibyaha bisa cyangwa bijya gusa n’icyo Bizimana Papias yahamijwe, bikaba byumvikana ko ikigano yahanishijwe kidashobora kongera kugabanywa. [21] Hashingiwe ku bisobanuro byose byatanzwe mu bika bibanziriza iki, Urukiko rurasanga ubujurire bwa Bizimana Papias nta shingiro bufite. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [22] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Bizimana Papias nta shingiro bufite. [23] Rwemeje ko urubanza RPA 01300/2022/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 11/10/2024 rudahindutse. [24] Rwemeje ko igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20) Bizimana Papias yahanishijwe kigumyeho. [25] Ruvuze ko Bizimana Papias asonewe amagarama y’urubanza kuko aburana afunze.